Holi 2023: Holi will be celebrated on March 8 across the country. There are few exceptional traditions that are observed in some parts of India. People living in Braj region of Uttar Pradesh believe that the festival is related to Lord Krishna. Holi rituals in Braj regions of Mathura, Vrindavan, Gowardhan, Gokul, Nandagaon and Barsana - are the most famous ones. The Lathmar Holi - the traditional Holi festivity in Barsana is world famous. 

Holi 2023 in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana: Schedule 

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March 3, 2023: Phoolwali Holi (Flower Holi) in Vrindavan and Mathura 

March 4, 2023: Chhadi Mar Holi ('wand beating' Holi) in Gokul 

March 4, 2023: Widow Holi in Vrindavan 

March 7, 2023: Holika Dahan (Effigy Burning) in Mathura 

This year, the Holika Dahan muhurat is from 4:17 PM on March 6, 2023 to 6:09 PM on March 07, 2023. 

Also Read: Income Tax: What are the 3 deductions under the new tax regime? 

Holi 2023 in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana: History and Significance 

There are many mythological stories related to Holi. One among them believed by legends is that, as a child, Lord Krishna would cry to his mother about Goddess Radha being fair while he had a dark complexion. His mother then advised him to smear colour on Radha, thus giving birth to Braj ki Holi. It is said that every year, Lord Krishna would travel from his village (Nandgaon) to Goddess Radha’s (Barsana), where Radha and the gopis would playfully beat him with sticks. 

Another story is about Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap. A prince named Prahlad was a firm believer of Lord Vishnu. But his father Hiranyakashyap who was powerful and wicked wanted his son to worship him and not Lord Vishnu.

So, he plotted with his sister Holika who was blessed with a boon of staying unharmed in fire to kill Prahlad. Holika as per the plan sat in the fire with Prahlad in her lap. While Prahlad was saved from this sinister act as he was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, Holika was burned to flames as a punishment for misusing her power.

This is how the tradition of Holika dahan or Holika bonfire started being practised to mark the beginning of this Hindu festival.

Later, Hiranyakashyap was left aghast with the incident and challenged his son to show if his God exists. When Prahlad affirmed the omnipresence of Lord Vishnu, the infuriated father broke down the pillar on which his son was sitting and was shocked to see a half-lion and half-human featured boar coming out of it.

Lord Vishnu took the form of this huge boar, called Narasimha, to rip Hiranyakashyap’s torso apart with his bare nails and kill the king at twilight.

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